# The Orville Season 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [December 31, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966 "2018-12-31T06:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/381 "2019-01-31T15:29:31Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I always thought universal translators were kind of a crutch technology like transporters that made things too easy. (Related: good on this show for not having transporters. Holy shit how many star trek episodes could be solved in 5 seconds with a damn transporter but weren’t) > > I’m okay with having a universal translator for known languages, like alien species you’ve had contact with for years and you’ve got a little computer implant in your ear that translates for you - that seems fine and plausible - but it makes no sense that a computer could instantly translate a whole new language on the first encounter. > > But I guess then first contact stories would always become communication difficulty stories, limiting your space to work with. So it’s an understandable cheat. In the episode, they had communications with the planet before they went down there. Presumably, the planet sent up “Here’s how our language works” instructions beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/382 "2019-01-31T16:11:48Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Johnny Bravo, with his eyes open wide! Johnny and Suzy at Aron City. Johnny and Donny Osmond at the North pole. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/383 "2019-01-31T16:49:16Z")
“Einstein, doing thing over and expecting different results.” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/384 "2019-01-31T17:55:58Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Were you firing live grenades? The only times “close” matters are horseshoes and hand grenades. > [@Biffster](#): > > And dancing. Horseshoes, dancing and hand grenades. And thermonuclear exchange. Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, dancing, and thermonuclear exchange. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/385 "2019-01-31T22:23:57Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > And of course the famous TNG episode where the UT works but the language is nothing but cultural references. > > _Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra!_ That sounds cool. Do you know the episode title? > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Care to point out where anyone in any Orville thread at this site has made that claim? It’s implicit, unless we’ve got a bunch of people who dislike all of “Star Trek” but still watch “The Orville”. I guess there might be some people like that, if they are into McFarlane’s other shows, but since this is supposed to mostly be an extension of classic Trek by Trek veterans now that CBS no longer has any interest in making that, I think it should be judged as such. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/386 "2019-01-31T22:28:12Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > That sounds cool. Do you know the episode title? [Darmok](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708696/). (Season 5, Episode 2) It’s a polarizing episode – the concept is interesting, and the interplay between Picard and the alien captain (Paul Warfield) is very good, but the logistics behind such a language are fairly absurd (and there was a thread on this board a few weeks ago specifically about it). ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/387 "2019-01-31T22:57:17Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2019, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/388 "2019-01-31T23:46:11Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > In the episode, they had communications with the planet before they went down there. Presumably, the planet sent up “Here’s how our language works” instructions beforehand. That and presumably they could hack into various systems and analyze years of TV, radio and literature to figure things out. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/389 "2019-02-01T01:27:06Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > That and presumably they could hack into various systems and analyze years of TV, radio and literature to figure things out. Those poor people… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/390 "2019-02-01T03:25:32Z")
Can man (in this case Dr. Finn) and machine find happiness together? I’m pretty sure ST:TNG mined this concept with more than one Data-centric episode, yet this one still felt fresh, and for me at least, Penny Johnson and Mark Jackson’s performances were realistic and quite touching. Also welcomed the return of some of the goofball humor that was mostly absent from the past couple episodes. ROFled over the scene with LaMarr and Malloy racing each other to the bridge to blurt out the latest gossip, and Isaac lounging around in wife-beater and tighty whities. Easily my favorite of the second season so far. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/391 "2019-02-01T03:26:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > [Darmok](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708696/). (Season 5, Episode 2) > > It’s a polarizing episode – the concept is interesting, and the interplay between Picard and the alien captain (Paul Warfield) is very good, but the logistics behind such a language are fairly absurd (and there was a thread on this board a few weeks ago specifically about it). Minor correction-Paul Winfield. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/392 "2019-02-01T03:54:22Z")
This was pretty shaggy, and sometimes cringey. But there was enough gold among the dross that I give it three stars. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/393 "2019-02-01T08:00:18Z")
IMO this show has to get alot wrong…because it has Parody/Spoof DNA. This isn’t the new show that rights all the wrongs of other shows, it lives (in part) to glorify Kirk humping everything without a penis, to spot light the bad last second save and wrap up…etc. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/394 "2019-02-01T10:19:23Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Can man (in this case Dr. Finn) and machine find happiness together? I’m pretty sure ST:TNG mined this concept with more than one Data-centric episode, yet this one still felt fresh, and for me at least, Penny Johnson and Mark Jackson’s performances were realistic and quite touching. Don’t forget the episode(s) of _ **Voyager** _ where Janeway got it on with a holodeck hunk. Or the ones of _ **TNG** _ where Riker was boinking a holographic barroom floozy. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/395 "2019-02-01T14:44:33Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > …Or the ones of _ **TNG** _ where Riker was boinking a holographic barroom floozy. I don’t think they actually boinked. They didn’t have time. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/396 "2019-02-01T15:13:47Z")
I laughed at Yaphit coming on to the doctor as Norm McDonald (who does Yaphit’s voice). ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/397 "2019-02-01T16:35:25Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Can man (in this case Dr. Finn) and machine find happiness together? I’m pretty sure ST:TNG mined this concept with more than one Data-centric episode, yet this one still felt fresh, and for me at least, Penny Johnson and Mark Jackson’s performances were realistic and quite touching. Also welcomed the return of some of the goofball humor that was mostly absent from the past couple episodes. ROFled over the scene with LaMarr and Malloy racing each other to the bridge to blurt out the latest gossip, and Isaac lounging around in wife-beater and tighty whities. > > Easily my favorite of the second season so far. I’d say it’s a fairly classic science fiction sort of question about a human interacting with a true artificial intelligence. Done well (and I think that overall the episode did), it can seem familiar but not derivative. That Isaac is only there to collect information and has no interest in being more human means that the story should be different than an episode like “In Theory” (which I actually don’t remember, but have seen others reference, so I read the synopsis.) The humor seemed well-balanced as well and I love that the closest thing to a B-plot was Bortus growing a mustache. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/398 "2019-02-01T18:47:03Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I laughed at Yaphit coming on to the doctor as Norm McDonald (who does Yaphit’s voice). Isaac was the real Isaac, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/399 "2019-02-01T19:04:45Z")
I thought this episode was cringey and very funny. Isaac lounging in his undies and brushing off the doctor was hilarious. It was also kind of sweet how the crew was pissed off at Isaac after that. Isaac’s redemption with the romantic scene in the rain on the bridge was goofy but fun parody. Props to the actress who plays the doctor. She did a good job of playing it straight in such a silly episode. Definitely my favorite episode of the season so far. ETA: Oh! And I liked Bortus with the mustache. He should have kept it! ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966/400 "2019-02-01T19:34:08Z")
I usually gripe about the romance in this show but this was my favorite episode yet. It was just so sweet and fun and funny but the sci-fi was there in full force. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-orville-season-2/826966.md?page=21)